Sections

There’s 17MB of built in memory, and you can expand it with microSD cards. The covered slot is on the upper right edge. Beneath this is a controller for the cameras of which there are two.

The main 2-megapixel camera lens is on the front of the casing. With the phone closed when you hold down the camera key the front screen turns into a viewfinder so you can frame pictures of yourself. The VGA camera you use for video calling is inside the clam beneath the screen.

The main camera produced clear sharp shots, the autofocus worked well, and my only grumble is that it seems to let in a bit too much light on automatic settings.

The cat was sitting under a tree and I am surprised he has photographed with quite so much colour definition. He was moving around a little at the time, and I had expected some blurring particularly around the head and tail, but the shot is pretty sharp. Light was again a problem with the yellow flowers, which are overexposed. The lens was about 50cm from its subject and the shot is fairly clear. My standard reference shot of the coloured dish was perfectly acceptable.

The gargantuan dimensions of the phone when its clam is opened mean there is room for a very well spaced number pad: it is extremely easy to use. Above the numberpad is a large trapezoid navigation button that’s wider at its top than its bottom end. Beneath it is the delete key, to its left Call, softmenu and video call keys, to its right End, softmenu and a switcher key. This latter lets you switch between call, messaging, and Web’n’Walk services without bothering to leave the application you are currently using.

Web’n’walk is T-Mobile’s mobile Internet service, and it is where HSDPA comes into its own on this phone. It currently offers theoretical maximum downloads speeds of 1.8Mbps and in my real world experience on this and other HSDPA devices speeds hover around and over 1Mbps it really does feel like you have broadband Internet in the palm of your hand.

You can use the SGH-Z560 as a modem with a PC or laptop. Even if you aren’t the type who uses mobile data with a laptop for any reason, the phone could be a useful alternative if your broadband connection is ever down.